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$500K gift launches Eastern music scholarship

Inaugural scholarship presented Sept. 1

Willimantic, CT (08/28/2023) — The ECSU Foundation, Inc. has received one of the largest estate gifts in Eastern Connecticut State University's history with upwards of $500,000 from the Everett W. Yaps estate. The gift is being used to fund the Wendy (Taylor) and Everett W. Yaps Memorial Endowed Scholarship, which will be presented for the first time on Sept. 1 at 12 p.m. in the Fine Arts Instructional Center Concert Hall during the Music Program's Friday Noon Colloquium series.

Yaps, who passed away in 2020, joined his wife Wendy (Taylor) Yaps '85, '87 in wanting to support music students at Eastern. Wendy graduated from Eastern at the age of 57 with a degree in business administration, later earning a second bachelor's degree in music in 1987. She taught accounting for many years at Manchester Community College and passed away in 2012.

Music major Aidan Reiss '26 of Stafford Springs is the scholarship's first recipient, which is awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to pursuing the study and performance of classical music.

"I am absolutely honored to have been recognized and chosen as the first recipient of the Yaps endowed scholarship," said Reiss. "To have my accomplishments, dreams, progress and practice pay off in such a manner, and to be recognized not only by my inspiring professors, but by Eastern as well, is an honor I had truly not anticipated. I owe a debt of gratitude to my professors, fellow music students, and the Everett Yaps Estate for their confidence and support in my prior and continuing work here at Eastern."

"This award will have a tremendous impact on Eastern's Music program," said Anthony Cornicello, chair of the Department of Music. "Personally, I was astounded when news of this came to me. It is wonderful to have a merit-based award for our students in the Performance Concentration. Our plan for the future is to offer this award to outstanding incoming students to draw them to Eastern, with the knowledge that this scholarship will help them throughout their four years at Eastern."

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